Power Skills for Personal Trainers

The “softer side” of coaching refers to the psychological, emotional, and communication skills that coaches and trainers rely on to better empower their clients. While strength training and building lean muscle mass may top a client’s list, qualities such as empathy, active listening, and built-in accountability will drive lasting behavior change, prevent burnout, and build […]

A Focus on Time: Hour-Long Training Sessions or Multiple 30-Minute Workouts?

The gym where I have worked for almost 4 decades recently considered encouraging clients to purchase 30-minute personal training sessions, perhaps twice weekly, rather than having them sign up for one-hour weekly sessions. The trainers met this with mixed reactions. This article explores the benefits and shortfalls of both types of personal training. Often, it […]

How to Read Scientific Disagreement Without Picking Sides

One of the things I enjoy most about teaching at the university level is helping students become more scientifically literate. In exercise science, that doesn’t simply mean learning anatomy, physiology, or biomechanics. It means learning how to evaluate evidence, question assumptions, recognize bias, and become comfortable with complexity. Perhaps most importantly, it means resisting the […]

Is Muscle-Centric Medicine Wrong? Understanding Why the Science Seems to Disagree

When Good Scientists Reach Different Conclusions In the previous article, we explored one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding skeletal muscle. Rather than asking whether muscle mass matters, we concluded that a much more useful question is which characteristics of skeletal muscle best predict long-term health, functional capacity, and longevity. As it turns out, muscle quantity, […]

Do Longevity Clinics Offer a Realistic Hope of Healthier, Longer Lives?

Star Trek, the long-running television show that brought the realm of science fiction into our living rooms, starred a character whose byline was “Live long and prosper.” Now it seems that research has propelled us into a future in which individuals may live longer, healthier lives. This article explores the birth of “longevity clinics”: what […]

Recovery Lounges Can Propel Clients to Greater Gains

Today’s personal training clients seek more than just well-equipped workout spaces. Recovery has evolved into a nonnegotiable aspect of modern fitness regimens. It drives performance gains, extends athletic longevity, and enhances overall well-being. Recognizing the importance of recovery in an overall wellness program has prompted a surge of “recovery lounges” in clubs across the country. […]

The Japanese Art of Interval Walking Training

Many of today’s fitness-focused social media platforms are talking about a new trend called Japanese Walking. This exercise method boasts broad appeal due to its relative simplicity and high success rates. This article discusses the origins and specifics of this popular sport, and we will delve into the health benefits associated with regular participation. Walking […]

The Most Dangerous Thing About Aging Isn’t Weakness—It’s Slowing Down

Over the past several decades, the fitness industry has spent an enormous amount of time talking about strength. And to be clear, strength absolutely matters. Strength supports bone density, metabolic health, movement quality, injury resilience, and overall physical capacity across the lifespan. But I increasingly believe we may have overlooked something equally important, if not […]

Elevating Yoga Poses into a Walking Workout

Trying to quiet the mind these days can often prove challenging. Some individuals clear their heads by taking a walk in nature. Others prefer the solitary mindfulness of a yoga class experience. This article explores the new fitness trend of walking yoga, blending the two and elevating the strengths of each. Taking Mindful Steps Walking […]

Ozempic Was Just the Beginning: What the Retatrutide Era Means for the Future of Fitness

Over the past several years, the fitness industry has spent an extraordinary amount of time debating GLP-1 agonists. Depending on who you ask, these medications are either revolutionizing obesity treatment or destroying the foundations of hard work and discipline altogether. Personally, I think both perspectives miss the bigger picture. Whether trainers like it or not, […]